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RIZA
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Chapter Sixty-One: The Cruelty of Hope - Part Two
Galactic Quadrant: Darna Quadrant
Ruling Government: Talum Merchant Federation
Solar System: D-447
Planet: Ora
Location: Daska City, Outer City
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***
Ten years ago
***
There is only despair in me now, it swims with the malice of my wretched soul. Eres is… gone. So are my other friends. I am the last of our band of Ulima that still draws breath. I have barely eaten and rarely slept since it happened. It is only the promise of revenge that keeps my blade from taking me to the afterlife. Eres did not die a good death… he cried near the end, calling for the gods who have forsaken all Kuwathi. I did not let him go until they pried me from his body. He was all I had left. All the good that I saw in the world. Without him. I am lost. They search for me now, my former Clan of liars. Blood drips from my hands as I wipe my blade in the frost.
Jenek was the one who sent them into battle, so I sent him to the afterlife. I made sure his death was more shameful than my sweet Eres’s. I made him beg as I peeled his flesh, made him cry for the gods. There was no pleasure in it, nor did it fill the void where my heart once beat.
***
Three weeks have passed, I managed to find a way into the inner city. Revenge sings to me even as I sleep. Nothing is holding me back anymore, nothing that holds my hand. With this life that I was given, I will fulfill my promises and finally rest in peace.
There is a change in the way of things, the Bipki drones have increased even more. They watch us from the tall ceilings, floating ominously. I do not know why they have come in such numbers, but I hear whispers of something coming. The city chief announced a week ago that there would be no moving of the city, even though we requested it from the masters. War has bled out into the streets since then, the outer clans broke the gates to the inner. Slaying the city chief. Now the inner Clans vie for power, and the dead pile in the thousands. They throw them like garbage into the mines. Making an army of Shulka whose howls can be heard from the lift now. It is chaos, as the Arasha woman warned.
The holo display hums to life as I walk by, stopping me as I gaze at the lights forming shapes. They only turn on when the Masters send us an announcement. The anthem of the Talum Merchant Federation blares on the sound systems.
A hologram of a man’s head and shoulders forms from the light. His hair is slicked back and neatly trimmed, he wears some kind of military dress uniform, an insignia of the Federation, and decorations hanging from his shirt, their meaning unknown to me. We all know his face though, we have seen it before from Federation broadcasts. Below him appears a counter, it is a countdown of seven days. It begins ticking downwards.
“I am Hellock, Primus of House Helenius. As decreed by the Talum Merchant Federation under the articles of the Imperium, I am your master.” He says after a time.
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There is a distinct coldness behind the smile on his face.
“You have been found guilty of failing to meet the quota for two seasons in a row. Under the laws of the Federation, the sentence is death. As the Governor of this solar system, it is my divine right to administer it.”
The crowd around me begins to whisper. There is fear in their eyes, but not mine. I would be happy to see them all burn.
“Fear not, I am merciful.” He smiles a twisted grin “You are privileged with the opportunity to redeem yourselves.”
All eyes dare not blink as they wait for him to continue.
“I will give unto you a series of tasks to complete. Those who are able to complete them will be rewarded greatly. Given a promising future.”
A promise… of a better future, like Yuna the Arasha woman warned me. The time has come then, the time of what she warned. There is no fear in me for it. I will use this to my advantage.
***
Another week has passed, and three from my mother’s old Clan lay dead before me. Those who sold me, those responsible for sending her to her death. Still, there is no release from the pain that swallows me. Even if the entire city burned, I would not feel its relief. I do not think I will have to wait for long, soldiers from the House of Helenius have come to the city. Taking people in droves. I do not wish to go with them, there are still more who my blade requires.
I must hide now, near where Yuna told me to. I do not expect her to show herself, not anymore. But still, it seems as good a place as any to hide from the Masters and their soldiers. They come in suits made of thick metal, wielding rifles. They have shot many in the streets to make an example for those who do not comply.
My hand traces over my journal, we have seen much together. Perhaps someday another Ulima will find it, and make use of the words that are written. Or at least, give meaning to my existence. Placing it in my hiding hole, I leave some of my supplies and bolt it in place. It will serve them better than me.
***
It takes me a few hours to reach where she spoke of. The place between the markets and the shuttle bay where the Arasha and Masters land their crafts. There are a few pipes that I could hide in. Looking around, I find one that will suit my needs. Crawling inside it, I close it after me. It is cold inside, with the valve shut off from the vents beneath the earth. If it were on, it would likely kill me.
Time edges by slowly. I hear screams from outside, but I do not look. Their fates are their own. All that I had in this world is gone now. Besides the Arasha woman, there is no one I would help even if able. I curse my people who sold me, killed the only man I ever loved, and sent my friends to die in the mines like my mother. All Kuwathi can burn for all I care. All the gods with the masters as well.
“Riza.” I hear someone whispering from outside the pipe.
My eyes widen, was it a trick of my ears? There is a tapping on a pipe near me.
“Riza.” The same voice whispers again. I recognize it.
Pushing open the pipe slowly, I peer outside. It is Yuna, the Arasha woman. She has come, like she promised. Opening the pipe fully I slide out quietly, looking around. There is no one else here.
“Yuna,” I say, almost unsure of what to say “You came for me?”
She spins around, her eyes opening fully as she rushes to me, embracing me tightly.
“I feared, oh how I feared after you child.” She says, her embrace is so warm against my aching heart.
Someone does care for me, I am not alone. Hope dares to stir in my chest again. Giving the first relief since Eres died. Tears stream down my cheeks as I hold her.
“Where is the boy?” Yuna asks me, looking around.
I shake my head to her, the words unable to form as my walls come crashing down. Hope at last. Finally, something to shine in the darkness of my life.
“I am sorry child.” She says, gripping me tighter “We must hurry and…”
Her words stop in her throat as her face fills with horror, she spins me around. I feel the spray of hot blood splash onto my face as her chest burns, a hole coming through it now. Despair howls in my soul. Hope dies in me, lost forever.
“Run…” she whispers with her last breath. Sliding to the floor.
Falling to my knees, I pull her into my arms. She is dead. My eyes look up behind her, two soldiers, one pointing a weapon at me.
Blinding rage spills into me as I grab my blade, dropping Yuna to the floor and slamming it against the man’s armor. The blade shatters, but I do not relent until they smack me to the ground, my head spins as blood drips from my forehead. I stand again, trying again. My blood coats my clothes as my own blade slices my hand, spraying on them. The man who killed her strikes me again, sending me to the floor. My vision is blurred as I try to stand again, but cannot.
“That one you just killed was Arasha, you idiot.” The first man says.
“So?” the other who killed Yuna says, his tone annoyed.
“So that means paperwork.” The first man groans, kicking Yuna’s lifeless boot.
“Or, we could just ignore it and keep moving.” The one who shot Yuna says.
“Fair point.” The first man says with a sigh “Kill the girl.”
“With pleasure.” The man replies, pointing his gun at me again.
I struggle to move, but despair is my master now. My eyes close, accepting my fate, peace will come at last.